what is the best setting for a digital camera at a concert?

Question

I have a Olympus Stylus 600 6.0 megapixal digital camera. Every time I go to a concert ALL my pictures turn out fuzzy. And it's not camera shake. What is the best setting for this other than getting closer seats (LOL)?

Answer 1

Well...getting close is a start...concerts are a tough shooting situation for any camera--even pro SLR's.

Your camera will go up to 1600 ISO (measures light sensitivity--higher is better--1600 is a very good setting for a point&shoot cam) but the resolution drops at this setting--but it's better to have a higher ISO to reduce shutter speed and freeze action than blurry high resolution pics.

So...set you camera at ISO 1600 and use "program mode". Or you can try using one of the scene modes--don't know exactly what settings the scene modes change but try "available light" and "candle" and see which one gives you better pics.

If you can experiment with the settings before the concert (shoot in a dimly lit room or out side at night) to see which mode(s) give you the best results then you won't have to fiddle with the cam at the concert and can enjoy the music.

You could also try setting the exposure compensation (ev) to -.3 or -.7. This will override the automatic light meter and give you a slightly faster shutter speed--although it may come at the expense of additional noise in you pics.

Try not to zoom in very much. The more you zoom in the more it reduces the amount of light the lens captures. (another reason to pay the extra $$ for good seats!!)

Turn off the flash it only works at close distances and may actually make your pics darker by increasing the shutter speed. Or give you perfectly exposed and sharp pics of the backs of people heads.

A couple shooting tips...

Hold your arms close in to your body when shooting or brace on a stationary object if you can. Also stand with one foot forward and one backward...this is a steadier stance.

Don't try to capture that mid-air jump or other scenes with a lot of action. Wait until there isn't much action and then snap the pic...it will be much sharper.


Good luck.

Bob

Answer 2

The fuzz is either coming from movement or it is coming from the camera operating at a very high ISO level. The camera
sets a high ISO to compensate for low light levels. It is the same as taking film pics with high speed film. The pics are very grainy - which would equate to your digitals looking fuzzy.

If you can control it, don't let the camera change the ISO setting. Lacking a high ISO will yield a movement issue.

Most people let the flash run at concerts, ball games, etc.
They end up with great pics of the person in front of them.
A flash only has a short range, maybe 10-15 ft. so turn it off.

Now that means that the camera will take the shot at a slow shutter speed because it doesn't see much light. That means it is more effected by any movement. Try using a monopod. A tripod with only one leg.

Also zoom in and take shots the don't include a lot of area that is lighted very different than what you want - like the lighted stage vs the dark audience.

good luck.

Answer 3

Exactly ! This question is asked about five times a week by people who can't be bothered to do a simple search. Any camera permitted into a concert has a sensor too small to cope with the light levels. Any camera capable of coping with the light levels (and a fair number that aren't) are effectively banned by the, 'No professional cameras,' rule operated at most venues (it'd take too long to explain to security staff what a professional camera actually is, so they just bar entry to anyone who might be carrying one).

Answer 4

I can only think it's too bad you don't have more than 3X optical. More zoom would have helped with image stabilizer.
Try leaving your ISO on auto setting or set it for 400. Hardest thing to do is catching an entertainer still. But that's the key.
PS It takes practice. You must be perfectly still. I really wonder what your ISO setting is. I went to a concert May 21st and left ISO on auto. Found out later most shots were taken at ISO 320. My lighting at concert wasn't bad. Allow as I did for many blurry shots, so take a lot of photos. A good percentage will be blurry, but the more you take the more decent photos you'll have.